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Court Proceedings

We are familiar with more than just substantive law. We are also well versed in asserting or defending your rights. In close consultation with you, we develop the appropriate tactics for each situation in order to represent and assert your interests, either before German state courts or private arbitration tribunals.

We can help with
  • Knowledge and experience

    Our experience in IP, IT or data protection law can also help you in court. Our specialists know both substantive law and the business. We also have a broad network of colleagues at home and abroad who we can consult on international issues.

  • IP Litigation

    Infringements of industrial property rights often culminate in legal proceedings. Our experienced lawyers will defend you in court against challenges arising from trademarks, copyrights or designs or will enforce your claims arising from such rights against third parties before German courts

  • Process Economy

    Based on our experience, we are able to assess the risk of litigation and make a legally but also economically sound recommendation on how to proceed; should the proceedings be conducted, avoided or should a settlement be sought?

  • Network

    We have an international network of outstanding procedural lawyers whom we can consult on cross-border issues and whom we can call in or recommend as representatives when enforcing rights abroad.

  • Competition Law

    If a competitor violates the rules of fair competition or if competitors obstruct one another deliberately and by unfair means, this can result in claims for injunctive relief and damages, which we can enforce, defend and secure both in and out of court.

  • Employment law

    We represent our clients before employment tribunals, regional employment courts and the Federal Employment Court in all kinds of legal proceedings, in particular in actions against unfair dismissal, actions for termination of employment and compensation as well as anti-discrimination claims.

  • Administrative Tribunal proceedings

    We also represent our clients’ interests in disputes concerning emission permits, special use permits or event-specific building permits for their events, or defend against legal actions brought by neighbours.

Contact Person
Christof Elßner
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Phone +49 30 283057452
Team
Latest Insights
IDO may not demand a contractual penalty

1. April 2025
by Joselyne Ntikahavuye & Philipp Schröder-Ringe, LL.M.

In a judgement dated 14 March 2025 - 7 HK O 50/23, which was obtained by HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte, the Regional Court of Trier ruled that a cease-and-desist declaration obtained by the IDO Interessenverband für das Rechts- und Finanzconsulting deutscher Online-Unternehmen e.V. (IDO) could be effectively terminated due to abuse of rights. Exceptionally, this cancellation also had retroactive effect on a contractual penalty that had already been claimed but not yet paid. The court found that the IDO may not demand contractual penalties because it lacks the authority to issue warnings as long as it is not entered in the list of trade associations of the Federal Office of Justice.

Police fees at the expense of the DFL are constitutional

11. February 2025
by Fabian Reinholz & Nicolas Porwitzki

Fair financial burden sharing or a dam break for the financing of public security policy? In its judgement last Tuesday, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the levying of fees for police operations at high-risk matches at the expense of the DFL in the form of the Bremen fee schedule is constitutional. Is the decision correct? Is the confirmed procedure for charging fees in Bremen a fair distribution of the financial burden or is it a breach of the dam for the private financing of public security policy? An overview:

Video Game Concepts – No Copyright Protection for Game Ideas

23. July 2024
by Lars Thiess

Even in times of the "eSports Winter," the gaming industry continues to grow steadily and has become one of the largest entertainment media in the world. Last year alone, the industry's revenue in Germany rose to nearly 10 billion euros. Innovative game concepts and unique game designs are crucial for the success of video games. The competition for media attention and players is fierce. It is not uncommon for basic concepts and game ideas of successful games to be adopted by competitors to offer similar games and benefit from the hype of the original game. It is therefore not surprising that legal proceedings in the industry are also increasing. The Cologne Regional Court recently dealt comprehensively with the copyright protection of game concepts and the limits of imitation.

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